You Can Build It, But Will They Come?

This was the comment that I just received from the reluctant listing agent of a vacant home I recently staged. He loved the staging but was not convinced that "just staging" was going to bring more buyers and in some ways he is probably correct.

It takes more than just staging to generate activity and bring about a successful sale. It takes the following things all working together to change a listing from "For Sale" to "SOLD":

• A Price Point that is in line with today's market and current conditions. You can not stage an overpriced home and expect it to generate activity and a sale. When I stage a home that has been on the market for a while, I want to know if it is being shown. If it is not being shown...that is a definite clue that the price is too high for today's market and in addition to staging, the price will need to come down. If it is being shown but no offers, then it probably a staging issue and staging can usually take care of the problem without a price reduction.
  
  
• A strong web presence for the staged home. Virtual tours, agent to agent eblasts, placement of the staged home on major real estate portals such as realtor.com, trulia, craiglist, activerain, and much more are essential in today's market since 85% of all home buyers will find their next home online.
  
  
• Agent Promotions to encourage the local real estate community to take a look at the staged home. There are hundreds, and in some markets, thousands of homes on the market at any given time. To get agents to show the staged home, you have got to offer incentives to get them inside the home. Realtor Opens, Realtor Luncheons. Give-Aways, Drawings for Prizes (check out my recent promotion http://www.showsgreat.biz/cruise1.htm) are just some of the ways to generate agent interest and activity.
  

At Shows Great Home Staging and Web Solutions, we offer staging packages that include online web marketing and agent promotions.

I would love to hear what other stagers are doing to make sure their staged listings are receiving the exposure and market activity that is needed to generate buyers in today's market.

Shows Great Home Staging and Web Solutions
We stage homes in Roanoke, Lynchburg, Smith Mountain Lake, The New River Valley, and Surrounding Areas! 540-343-0051 / www.showsgreat.biz